Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 night he sang with a spirit of bravado and as his fine tenor voice soared into the ever popular “O Sole Mio,” the glasses rattled with the applause. ‘There were cries of “Bravo! Bravo!” The patrons were delighted at the even- ing’s entertainment. The Dancing Doll, a fist fight, the apache dance and now “O Sole Mio,” but on the last note George was brought up with a start, and the old pian- ist’s fingers. ceased abruptly. A voice in the café had shouted, “ By God! It’s Kid Caruso!” There was no dodging the encounter. Happy George was recognized. He looked straight into the eyes of Jim: Harbison, who had half risen from his chair and was point- ing him out, while a large, overdressed woman with lemon-colored hair stared with smiling interest. George walked over to the table and took the showman’s .outstretched hand. Harbi- son was overjoyed. “ Happy George! Can you beat that! What are you doing down im this corner of the world?” Without waiting for an an- swer he continued, “ Want you to meet my wife! Lily, this is Mr. George Marcanda, otherwise known to fame as Kid Caruso, the Bleecker Street Nightingale!” “Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” replied George blushing and extending a hand. “Tt’s nice to meet folks from home!” To himself he added Sn agnor “ Like hell it 1s!” “Well, well, well!” crowed Harbison, slapping George on the back as they settled down to drinks “ on the house.” “I never expected to find you here. It must be all of two years since | saw you last. Have you been working here all this time?” “T got a part interest in this place,” an- swered George with some pride. “TI left New York because I thought I could do better for myself, and I gtess I was right.” Harbison patted his hand. “ Fie, my boy, fme! You’d make good anywhere! But say,” he added in a low voice, “ now I remember you had some run-in with the police. I forgot all about that. Maybe I pulled a boner when J spoke your name right out in meeting just now.” “No, there was nothing to it,” said ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. George with assumed indifference. ‘“ The bulls never had anything on me—you didn’t hear that I was wanted for any- thing, did you?” “ Well, let me see,” Jim Harbison knitted his brows. Things happened so fast on Broadway that the events of two years ago were old stuff! “ There was something in the newspapers about your running with a gang that killed a policeman. I never took any stock m it myself. They sent a guy to the chair for that murder, Spaghetti House Louie, I think his name was. Some of the others got long terms in Sing Sing. One of them, Nick-in-the-Blade, made his get- away. He was the brains of the gang.” “Yes, I read about it in the newspapers —what brings you to South America?” “Partly business and partly pleasure,” replied Harbison. “ Lily kept after me for years to take her on a trip to the tropics, and besides I thought I might pick up some novelty in the way of entertainers. Some of these South American capitals are said to be as gay as Paris.” “ ‘They’re pretty wild in spots,” admitted George. “ It’s not exactly the wild stuff I’m look- ing for. If I wanted wild stuff I’d sign up those two apache dancers. That was a wow Tl say! It looked like a real murder when those two were strangling each other. But that act’s too rough. The little lady I want to sign up is that Dancing Doll! There’s a girl that can dance!” “You think she’s pretty good?” asked George. “Think so? Why man I’ve got ten thousand dollars cash that says so, right out loud. Yes, sir, I’ve got ten thou- sand dollars cash to back my opinion, and a good fat contract for a year as well. Tf I can get her manager to sign up I'll have her name in lights in front of my Broadway theatre!” “You haven’t seen her manager?” asked George. “No. I was looking for him. Somebody told me he was tanked most of the time. Have to send him to a Turkish bath before talking business! A sport named Dalby!” ‘He used to be her manager but he isn’t any more.” = a (C@ VOOKS (C@